Ball batting practice apparatus



March 21, 1967 H. J. BURT 3,310,306

BALL BATTING PRACTICE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 22,' 1964 HENRY J. BURT I N VENTOR.

March 21 H. ,1. BURT I BALL BATTING PRACTICE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1964 FIG. 4

HENRY J. BURT INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,310,306 BALL BATTHNG PRACTICE APPARATUS Henry J. Burt, W. Main St., Brookiield, Mass. 01506 Filed San. 22, 1964 Ser. No. 339,378

. 6 Claims. (Cl. 273Z6) This invention relates to a practice apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus arranged to permit the continued and frequent striking of a game ball by a batting or striking implement.

There are many games which involve the striking of a ball with a bat or racket, one of these being, for instance, the game of baseball. One difficulty that has been experienced with such games is that it is difiicult to obtain batting practice. As a matter of fact, the weakest aspect of the American game of baseball is the inability of the average player to hit the ball eifectively. This is because of lack of persistent practice. On the baseball field each player has to take his turn at the bat and the whole team must work to give each individual player an opportunity to bat. So far as practice is concerned, this system is too costly in the time and energy of all the other players and they cannot afford to give any single player enough time at bat to get the practice he needs. The result is that very few players ever become good hitters. However, hitting the ball not only gives the greatest satisfaction in baseball but it is the most important element in winning the game. For the average player, then, his greatest weakness is in this most vital part of the game and, obviously the remedy is more batting practice. Many devices have evolved in the past to permit this type of practice, some of which are very complicated and costly and involve the use of a large number of balls, as in the case of a pitching machine. The pitching machine is not only expensive, but the balls which it pitches must be picked up and returned to the rack, from time to time. Other apparatus have been evolved using balls suspended by strings and the like, but most of these have failed in their operation, because they do not permit continuous operation and become entangled in the support. In other cases, the movement of the ball is erratic; that is to say, if the ball is struck at an angle, the ball in returning may strike the batter or take a path which does not resemble a pitched ball. These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the present invention to provide a practice apparatus whose main action realistically imitates that of a pitched baseball or other game ball.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a practice apparatus which, due to the rhythmic action involved, gives a high degree of psychological satisfaction and which gives balanced exercise.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a practice apparatus which gives individual batting practice to a user without the presence of any other player being necessary.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a practice apparatus in which a ball oscillates in response to the striking by the user but which will not strike the user on its return no matter how the ball is struck.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a practice apparatus for striking a ball in which the ball maintains a substantially horizontal path irrespective of the manner in which the ball is struck.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a practice apparatus which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple in construction, and capable of a long life of useful service with a minimum of maintenance.

It is a still further object of the present invention to 3,310,306 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 "ice provide a practice apparatus consisting of apparatus for supporting a ball in such a manner that it moves along a horizontal straight path and oscillates in this path as long as energy is imparted to it by the user and which does not vary appreciably from this path of movement, even though the ball is struck along a path varying substantially from the said path of movement.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a practice apparatus for baseball or the like which requires no source of operating power aside from the energy expended by the batter.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a practice apparatus in which a ball and its supporting apparatus cannot strike the user.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

The character of the invention, however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structural forms as illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a practice apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a ball used in the apparatus,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of another portion of the apparatus.

Referring first to FIG. 1, which best shows the general features of the invention, the practice apparatus, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, is shown in use by a small boy 11 using a baseball bat 12. The apparatus consists of a left-hand support member 13 and a righthand support member 14 joined by a flexible elastomer member 15 to the center of which is attached a base-' ball 16.

The left-hand support member 13 is provided with a vertical post 17 which is firmly buried in the ground and which carries at its upper end a cross-arm 18 having a portion 19 extending inwardly toward the boy 11 and toward the other right-hand support member 14. The cross-arm also has a portion 21 which is considerably longer than the portion 19 and which extends outwardly, i.e., away from the other support member 14. The arm 18 is maintained in a slight angularity to the vertical post 1'7 by a cross-brace 22. One end of the elastomer member 15 is attached to the outermost end of the portion 21.

Similarly, the right-hand support member 14 consists of a vertical post 23 which is buried in the ground and which has pivoted to its upper end a cross-arm 24- having a short inwardly-directed portion 25 and a longer outwardly-directed portion 26 to the outer end of which is attached the other end of the elastomer member 15. A brace 27 extends between the intermediate portion of the post 14 and the intermediate part of the portion 26 of the arm 24 to maintain the arm 24 at a selected angularity to the post 14. A flexible member 28 is fastened at one end to the innermost end of the portion 19 of the arm 13 and at its lower end to a coil spring 29, the other end of which is attached to the post 17 adjacent the ground. Similarly, a flexible member 31 and a coil spring 32 are connected between the innermost end of the portion 25 of the cross-arm 24 and the bottom of the post 14.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the ball 16 consists of a hard rubber inner core 33 surrounded by a layer of cord 34 which, in turn, is surrounded by another layer of cord 35 of a different texture, and finally enveloped in the usual leather cover 36. A bore 37 is drilled through the ball and the elastomer member extends through the bore. One end of the bore is provided with a bevel 38 while the other end is provided with a bevel 39. The elastomer member 15 is provided with a knot 41 at one side of the ball and a knot 42 at the other side of the ball. The elastomer member in the preferred embodiment consists of a rubber core 43 provided with a knitted fabric casing 44.

In FIG. 4 it can be seen that the lower end of the post 17 is provided with a screw eye 45 to which one end of the coil spring 29 is attached. The other end of the spring is provided with a hook to which is fastened by a loop or the like the flexible member 28. In the preferred embodiment, the coil spring 29 is made of metal wire and the flexible member 28 has a steel core which is covered with a heavy outer casing of an elastomer plastic. The flexible member is tied to the outer end of the portion 19 of the cross-arm 13 in such a way as to place the coil spring 29 under substantial initial tension.

Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the elastomer member 15 is provided with a loop 46 by which it is attached to a screw eye 4-7 mounted on the other end of the portion 21 of the cross-arm 18.

The operation of the apparatus will now be readily understood in view of the above discussion. When it is at rest the apparatus appears as it is in FIG. 1 with the exception that the elastomer member 15 occupies a position in the plane of the posts 17 and 23 and the cross-arms 18 and 24 with the ball 16 located half-Way between the two posts. When the user (in the form of the boy 11) strikes the ball 16 with the bat 12, the ball moves out of the plane of the posts away from the batter. On returning, it takes a path which, in the preferred embodiment, is generally horizontal and is along a straight line bisecting the posts 17 and 23 and at right angles to the plane of the posts. On its return, however, the ball continues past the plane of the posts toward the position occupied by the boy 11 and comes to a position similar to that shown in FIG. 2. It should be noted that, no matter how far back the ball 16 goes, the movement of the elastomer member '15 will be restrained by the posts 17 and 23 and the flexible members 28 and 31. When the boy stands in the proper position, it is not possible either for the ball or the elastomer member to hit him. Whether or not the boy 11 strikes the ball at every reciprocation, it continues to reciprocate along a line which is generally horizontal and generally along a right-angled bisector of the plane of the posts 17 and 23. The proper operation of the apparatus is, however, in large part a complex function of a number of factors, the most important of which are the unstressed length of the elastomer member 15, the weight or" the baseball 16, the distance between the ends of the portions 26 and 21 to which the elastomer member is attached, and the linear spring constant of the elastomer member. For instance, the distance between the points of attachment of the elastomer member 15 should lie in the range from feet to 30 feet, but preferably 22 /2 feet. Then, the elastomer member is made approximately three feet shorter than that distance in its unstressed condition so that, when it is attached to the outer ends of the cross-arms 18 and 24, it will be under a slight tension. When in this condition, the elastomer member will lie against or close to the posts 17 and 23 and the ball 16 which, in the preferred embodiment, has a weight in the range from 2 ounces to 7 ounces and preferably is a 5 ounce standard baseball, will cause the center of the elastomer member to sag below its support points. The amount of sag is in the order of 3 feet. Furthermore, the spring constant of the elastomer member is approximately of a pound per inch and the support points are selected as being at about head height (six feet) for the type of person who is to be using the apparatus. When these factors are suitably selected, the ball will reciprocate along the line which is horizontal and which is at a height approximately a little above the waist height of the person using it along a line which exactly bisects the plane of the posts. This means that it approximates the path taken by a baseball in being pitched to the user. In the preferred embodiment, the elastomer member had a rubber core and a knitted rayon cover. This meant that the member obeyed Hookes law under light load and had a spring constant of approximately /6 of a pound per inch. However, when stretched by considerable amounts, the rayon cover resisted stretching and the stretch at a 4 pound pull was only the characteristic curve of stress vs. strain was, therefore, more or less a straight line near the origin, but become exponential at larger stress.

It can be seen from a study of this description that the practice apparatus of the present invention automatically throws the ball to the batter. When the batter hits the ball the apparatus catches it and then pitches it again to the batter immediately. The ball is delivered over a position which could be occupied by a conventional home plate many times each minute. If the batter misses the ball or refuses to strike at it, the apparatus catches it behind the plate and throws it again to the pitchers box and then pitches it to the batter again; the apparatus, therefore, does the work of pitcher, catcher, and fielder. The batter simply stands at the plate and bats the ball as often as he wishes. He can practice batting by the hour, if he so desires, obtaining hundreds of opportunities to hit the ball as it comes over the plate. It is not necessary to have any help and no player ever touches the ball with his hands. It will be understood that, if the batter by accident or purpose strikes the ball in any way but the path along which it came, the apparatus is so constructed that it will tend to return the ball to this straight bisecting horizontal path. No matter how erratically angularly the ball is struck, it will not move along an erratic path of return. This is important because, after all, in the game of baseball the ball is always pitched from a given position and along a horizontal path; a ball is never pitched so that it comes in at the batter from a very great angle, despite the attempts of pitchers to pitch curves and the like.

The safety of the present apparatus will be evident in that the posts 17 and 23 are the first element of the apparatus struck by the elastomer member 15 as the ball is returning. Then the path is further broken by the flexible members 28 and 31. No matter how hard the ball returns and no matter how far in back of the plane of the posts 17 and 23 it goes, neither the ball nor the elastomer member is able to hit the user unless, of course, he stands in its direct path. Normally, however, he will stand to one side as though he were addressing home plate ready to receive a pitched ball and he will be safely out of any path that could be taken by the ball and the elastomer member.

Among the advantages of the present invention are, first of all, the fact that it requires no outside power and is operated only by the energy imparted to its by the user. Furthermore, the ball is set in motion and it continues in motion solely by the force put into the ball by the batter in striking the ball. When the batter ceases to strike the ball, the action comes to a stop after a short while. Furthermore, the entire action takes place without any pause and without any time limits; it is operated by one individual, so that the batter is able to practice without help from any other person. This means that there is no need for him to retrieve the ball or anything of that kind. Furthermore, when the batter fails to hit the ball or allows it to pass, it simply passes back over home plate and is automatically retrieved without the help of any other person. Because of the simplicity of the apparatus, it requires no lubrication or any other routine serving. The apparatus has the advantage of offering not only entertainment to an individual but also the satisfaction of his general desire to improve his batting average. In a social sense, the apparatus can be used effectively for group entertainment and competition.

The apparatus also has unusual merit as a means of complete, rhythmic, balanced exercise. The twisting action of the body incident to the rhythmic act of hitting a ball many times a minute (for a short period in a righthanded position and then for a short period in a lefthanded position) gives a rhythmic balanced exercise to most, if not all, the muscles in the body. It is particularly valuable as an exercise for the abdominal region. The exercise is never forced on the user by the device itself, but the amount of exercise is always determinable by the player. In other words, all persons including young children, active athletes, and older persons may adjust the vigor of their exercise exactly to their needs. As a secondary feature of this apparatus, it may be said that the chief reason for the popularity of the American game of baseball is the elemental satisfaction derived from hitting an object successfully with some kind of club. The device under consideration here magnifies that satisfaction by ofiering the player an extraordinary number of opportunities for hitting the ball in the order of 20 times per minute. This gives a maximum of satisfaction with a minimum of frustration. Furthermore, the physical and psychological satisfaction which results from the continuing experience of rhythmic activity is not without benefit. Hitting the ball with rhythmic regularity (repetition with variations) gives an indefinable satisfaction which no aspect of the regular game of baseball can claim.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come Within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A practice apparatus, comprising (a) two spaced support members located on opposite sides of a striking position and defining a vertical plane,

(b) an elongated elastomer member attached at its ends to the support members,

(c) a ball fixedly mounted on the center portion of the elastomer member with the elastomer member passing through the center of the ball, and

(d) means defining at least a pair of cushioning members lyin in the said vertical plane, at least one of said cushioning members lying on each side of the striking position and spaced a substantial distance inwardly from the point of attachment at the end of the elastomer member to the support member, whereby the said elastomer member upon rebound after said ball is struck hits the cushioning members to sweep a limited area at the striking position.

2. A practice apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the cushioning members define a vertical opening having side edges which are inclined upwardly and inwardly.

3. A practice apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the support members consists of a vertical post and a transversely-extending arm, the arms extending substantial distances away from the said position, and wherein the elastomer member is attached to the ends of the portions of the arms that extend away from the striking position.

4. A practice apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the posts and arms lie in a single plane and each arm extends in opposite directions in the plane from its post.

5. A practice apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the ends of the elastomer member are attached to the arms at points which are a distance apart in the range from 10 to 30 feet.

6. A practice apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the elastomer member has a linear spring constant of approximately of a pound per inch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 861,506 7/1907 Doyle 273--26 1,708,796 4/ 1929 Lawrence 273-97 2,578,313 12/ 1 Moseley 27326 X 3,042,401 7/ 1962 Denegre 27 326 FOREIGN PATENTS 350,241 6/ 1931 Great Britain.

RICHARD c. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

L. J. BOVASSO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PRACTICE APPARATUS, COMPRISING (A) TWO SPACED SUPPORT MEMBERS LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF A STRIKING POSITION AND DEFINING A VERTICAL PLANE, (B) AN ELONGATED ELASTOMER MEMBER ATTACHED AT ITS ENDS TO THE SUPPORT MEMBERS, (C) A BALL FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON THE CENTER PORTION OF THE ELASTOMER MEMBER WITH THE ELASTOMER MEMBER PASSING THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE BALL, AND (D) MEANS DEFINING AT LEAST A PAIR OF CUSHIONING MEMBERS LYING IN THE SAID VERTICAL PLANE, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CUSHIONING MEMBERS LYING ON EACH SIDE OF THE STRIKING POSITION AND SPACED ON SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE INWARDLY FROM THE POINT OF ATTACHMENT AT THE END OF THE ELASTOMER MEMBER TO THE SUPPORT MEMBER, WHEREBY THE SAID ELASTOMER MEMBER UPON REBOUND AFTER SAID BALL IS STRUCK HITS THE CUSHIONING MEMBERS TO SWEEP A LIMITED AREA AT THE STRIKING POSITION. 